Is the Soundcore Rave 3S Worth It? AI Karaoke Party Speaker Review

The Soundcore Rave 3S is the party speaker to buy if karaoke is the main event. It ships with two wireless microphones and an AI vocal remover that strips the singer out of songs from any app, and Digital Trends called it the best karaoke speaker its reviewer had come across. Skip it if you need to carry a speaker any distance, or if you want the cleanest possible sound at full volume.

The sound is the trade-off. SoundGuys praised its heavy bass with BassUp on, but HeadphoneCheck found the balance slipping once the volume passed halfway, and Digital Trends heard the highs fuzz up when pushed. For singing at a house party that matters less than the mics and vocal tools, which every reviewer liked.

ArmorSound did not test this speaker in person. This review combines Soundcore's specs and test notes with published reviews from SoundGuys, Digital Trends and HeadphoneCheck, credited as we go.

Quick verdictTop pick

The best-value karaoke party speaker, with mics included

Two wireless mics, AI vocal removal and an IPX4 body come in one 200-watt box, and every reviewer we read liked the karaoke features. HeadphoneCheck found the sound gets harsh past half volume, so it suits singing more than big dance floors.

Buy it if

Karaoke nights with two singers
Hosts who don't want to buy mics
Buskers who need a battery amp

Skip it if

You need to carry it far
You want clean sound at full volume

Check price on soundcore's Amazon store →

Where to buy

Our verdict

Soundcore Rave 3S

Best for: Karaoke parties with two singers

Output: 200W
Mics: 2 wireless, included
Battery: Up to 12 hrs (50% volume, BassUp and lights off)
Water rating: IPX4
Weight: 23.1 lb (10.48 kg)

Two wireless mics in the box
AI vocal removal adjustable from the mic
6.35 mm mic/guitar input with gain
Charges over USB-C

Heavy, with no wheels
Harsh past half volume, per HeadphoneCheck
Full charge takes about six hours

Watch for: Soundcore's 12-hour battery figure assumes 50% volume with BassUp and lights off, so a loud night with the light show will run shorter.

Check price on soundcore's Amazon store →

What are the Soundcore Rave 3S key specs?

Spec	Soundcore Rave 3S
Output power	200W
Drivers	6.5-inch woofer, three 2.5-inch full-range drivers
Frequency response	40 Hz to 20 kHz
Microphones	Two wireless mics included (AA batteries)
Battery	Up to 12 hours (Soundcore test: 50% volume, BassUp and lights off)
Charging	USB-C
Wired inputs	3.5 mm aux, 6.35 mm mic/guitar
Multi-speaker	Auracast and TWS stereo pairing
Water resistance	IPX4
Size and weight	21.7 x 12.0 x 11.1 in; 10.48 kg (23.1 lb)

How good are the Rave 3S wireless mics and AI vocal removal for karaoke?

This is the reason to buy a Rave 3S. Two wireless microphones come in the box, and Digital Trends found they power on and connect to the speaker with a chime, no app or pairing menu needed. Each mic has its own volume buttons, and four AA batteries (two per mic) are included. The mics clip into rubber holders on the back of the speaker for transport.

Press the vocal-removal button and the speaker strips the lead singer from whatever is playing, from Spotify or any other app. Soundcore claims more than 95 percent vocal separation. SoundGuys found it removes most, if not all, of the lead vocal, sometimes leaving faint backing vocals that disappear once someone starts singing. You can set how much of the original singer stays in the mix, from the app, the top panel or, per Digital Trends, right from the microphone.

Two extras make it friendlier for nervous singers. Auto Guide Vocal brings the original vocal back when you stop singing and fades it out when you start again, which Digital Trends said works smoothly. The app also offers four reverb types, adjustable from a knob on the speaker, plus four vocal enhancer presets.

Soundcore says the mics use anti-feedback technology. You will still get squeal if you point a live mic at the grille, so keep singers in front of or beside the speaker.

How does the Soundcore Rave 3S sound, and how loud can it get?

Soundcore rates the Rave 3S at 200 watts through a 6.5-inch woofer and three 2.5-inch full-range drivers. Its headline 108 dB figure comes with a footnote: Soundcore measured it in its own lab using a sine-wave test signal at one meter, which is not how music behaves.

The reviews split on how it sounds. SoundGuys liked it out of the box with BassUp engaged, describing plenty of low-end weight with no audible distortion at higher volumes and enough treble clarity to hear claps and finger snaps. HeadphoneCheck was harsher: BassUp sometimes smothered the mids and highs, and past half volume the bass thinned while the mids got pushed forward, ending in a noisy, harsh sound at high levels.

Digital Trends landed between the two. Its reviewer only pushed it to about 60 percent volume in a living room before backing off, found it clear until the highs started to fuzz, and rated Soundcore just behind JBL and Sony for dynamics and clarity. Both HeadphoneCheck and Digital Trends liked Spatial Audio mode, which widens the sound when you lay the speaker on its side.

Put together, the Rave 3S has plenty of volume for a living room or backyard party, but you will get better results a notch or two below maximum. The app's 9-band EQ, which Digital Trends says spans 80 Hz to 13 kHz, gives you room to tame the bass.

How long does the Soundcore Rave 3S battery last, and how does it charge?

Soundcore claims up to 12 hours, but read the footnote: it measured that at 50 percent volume with BassUp and the light show turned off. A loud night with the lights running will come in shorter, and none of the three reviews reports a timed rundown test. HeadphoneCheck still listed good battery life among its pros.

The speaker charges over USB-C, which SoundGuys liked because you do not need a proprietary AC cable. HeadphoneCheck puts the battery at 4,900 mAh, and Digital Trends says a full charge takes about six hours, so plug it in the night before a party rather than the hour before. The microphones run on their own AA batteries, so keep spares around.

What inputs, connections and app features does the Rave 3S have?

Behind a rubber flap on the back you get one 6.35 mm input with a mic/guitar switch and its own gain control, plus a 3.5 mm aux input with its own volume, according to SoundGuys. That is enough for a third singer on a wired mic or an acoustic-electric guitar. Digital Trends called the wired options modest, and there is no optical or HDMI input for a TV.

HeadphoneCheck lists Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC and AAC, multipoint pairing and up to 50 meters of range in open space. Soundcore lists Auracast and TWS: two Rave 3S speakers can run as a stereo pair, and SoundGuys notes it can join other Soundcore speakers for mono playback. If you sing along to lyric videos over Bluetooth, our Bluetooth latency guide explains how to keep the audio in sync.

The Soundcore app is where the depth is. Digital Trends describes four EQ presets and a custom 9-band EQ, BassUp, the vocal tools and controls for the light show, which has eight presets according to Soundcore. HeadphoneCheck adds a sleep timer and firmware updates, and notes the extra karaoke options appear when a mic is active. Digital Trends found the light patterns hard to tell apart, and HeadphoneCheck called the show uninspired.

How heavy, portable and water resistant is the Soundcore Rave 3S?

At 10.48 kg (23.1 pounds) and nearly 22 inches tall, this is a carry-to-the-car speaker. There is one top handle and no wheels or telescopic handle, which SoundGuys and Digital Trends both listed as cons; SoundGuys also wanted more handles. HeadphoneCheck noted rubber feet for standing or lying it down, but no stand socket underneath.

Digital Trends describes thick, textured plastic armor with a metal grille, and a passive bass radiator port on the bottom that gains extra low end near a corner. The speaker is rated IPX4, so a spilled drink or light shower is fine, but HeadphoneCheck advises moving the party indoors in heavy weather.

Who should buy the Soundcore Rave 3S, and who should skip it?

Buy it if:

Karaoke is the main reason you want a party speaker.
You want two wireless mics without buying them separately.
You want to sing over regular streaming songs instead of hunting for karaoke tracks.
You want a battery amp with a guitar input for busking.

Skip it if:

You plan to walk any distance with it. At 23.1 pounds with one handle, it is heavy.
Dance-floor volume with clean highs is the priority. Look at our JBL PartyBox Club 120 review for a bass-first alternative.
You need a smaller box for one singer. Our JBL PartyBox Encore Essential 2 review covers a lighter JBL with one mic input.

What can I buy instead of the Soundcore Rave 3S?

Feature	Soundcore Rave 3S	JBL PartyBox Club 120	Tribit StormBox Blast 2	Bose S1 Pro+
Rated output	200W	160W RMS	200W (AC), 180W (battery)	Not published (109 dB max SPL)
Mics included	Two wireless	None	None	None
Wired mic inputs	One 6.35 mm mic/guitar	Mic plus mic/guitar	Two 6.35 mm	Two XLR/6.35 mm combo
Claimed battery	12 hrs	12 hrs, swappable	30 hrs (50% volume, XBass and lights off)	11 hrs
Water rating	IPX4	IPX4	IP67	Not water resistant
Weight	23.1 lb	24.35 lb	15.76 lb	14.4 lb

JBL PartyBox Club 120. The bass-first pick. JBL lists 160 watts RMS, a mic input plus a mic/guitar input for wired duets, and a swappable battery. RTINGS found it impressively loud with a bass-heavy sound, but cumbersome to carry, and no mics come in the box. Our Club 120 review also covers its newer replacement, the PartyBox 130.

Tribit StormBox Blast 2. The tougher, lighter option. Tribit lists 200 watts on AC power, two 6.35 mm mic inputs with reverb, IP67 water and dust protection and a 30-hour battery claim at half volume with XBass and lights off. Mics are sold separately. Read our StormBox Blast 2 review.

Bose S1 Pro+. The choice for people who perform rather than party. Bose Professional gives it a three-channel mixer with ToneMatch and reverb on two mic channels, an 11-hour battery and a 14.4-pound body, with optional wireless transmitters for your own mics. It has no lights, no vocal removal and no water resistance. See our Bose S1 Pro+ review.

For more options with screens and lyrics, see our best karaoke speakers guide, where the Rave 3S is the top pick. Other speakers to compare are the 50W Monster S200 party speaker and the Sonos Era 100 smart speaker.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Soundcore Rave 3S come with microphones?

Yes. Two wireless microphones come in the box, along with four AA batteries to power them, according to Digital Trends. Each mic connects automatically when you switch it on and has its own volume buttons. You can also plug a third, wired mic or a guitar into the 6.35 mm input on the back, which has its own gain control.

How well does the Rave 3S remove vocals?

Well enough for karaoke on most songs. Soundcore claims more than 95 percent vocal separation, and SoundGuys found it removed most or all of the lead vocal, sometimes leaving faint backing vocals. You can dial in how much of the original singer remains, and Auto Guide Vocal brings it back if you stop singing.

Is the Soundcore Rave 3S waterproof?

No, it is splash resistant. The IPX4 rating covers splashes from any direction, so a spilled drink or a light shower will not hurt it, but it should not sit out in steady rain or near a pool where it could be dunked. Keep the rubber flap over the rear ports closed when you are outdoors.

Can you connect two Rave 3S speakers?

Yes. Soundcore lists TWS pairing, which runs two Rave 3S units as a stereo pair, and Auracast for linking more speakers. SoundGuys says it can also connect to other Soundcore speakers for mono playback, and HeadphoneCheck reports Auracast setups of up to ten compatible speakers. Pairing two Rave 3S speakers is the simplest way to cover a bigger yard.

Can the Rave 3S connect to a TV?

Yes, over Bluetooth or a 3.5 mm aux cable, according to SoundGuys. There is no optical or HDMI input. For karaoke with lyrics on a TV, a wired aux connection avoids Bluetooth delay between the screen and the music, though your TV needs a headphone or line output to use it.

Sources

What do the Soundcore Rave 3S numbers mean for a karaoke party?

The spec sheet has footnotes worth reading before party night. Here is what the key numbers mean for you.

Soundcore rates the Rave 3S at 200W, plenty of volume for a living room or backyard party. (soundcore.com)
The 12-hour battery claim was measured at 50% volume with BassUp and lights off, so loud nights run shorter. (soundcore.com)
The 108 dB figure came from a sine-wave test at one meter, which is not how music behaves. (soundcore.com)
Digital Trends says a full charge takes about six hours, so plug it in the night before. (digitaltrends.com)
At 10.48 kg (23.1 lb), it is a speaker to carry to the car, not down the street.